Improvement in metallic cartridges



E. MAYNARD.

Cartridge. No. 39,823 V Patented Sept. 8,1863,

ww- Zihemw MM I M L N-FEIERS, PNOTD-UTHOGRIFHER. WASHXNGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFIOE.

EDWARD MAYNARD, on WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or coLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES.

'iSjoccificat-ion forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,823, dated September 8, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MAYNARD, of

the city of \Vashington and District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in the method of priming or com bining fnlminating-powder with loaded metallic or otherwise durable and impermeable cartridges; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description. thereof, reference being had to the accompany-L ing drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a

vertical section of a cartridge arranged in acnate with the retracting-arm ot' a metallic car tridge.

'Similar letters indicate like parts in each of the drawings.

The object of my invention is to combine a fulminating compound with a loaded metallic cartridge in such a 1n anner as to diminish or prevent the danger of an accidental explosion of the cartridge before it is placed in the gun, and thereby remove a serious objection to the general use of primed and loaded metallic cartridges.

To accomplish this end I propose to place the fulminate without the cartridge by combinin g it with an exterior arm or cord, which will subserve the additional purpose of a retractor, whereby the cartridge may be withdrawn from the gun after its discharge.

The simplest form of my invention is repre sented in Figs. 1, 3, and 5 of the accompanying drawings. I attach to a thin metallic cartridge, A, a suitable cord or-thon g, B, of such a length as to answer fully the purpose of a retracting-arm therefor, and to the end of this flexible arm or cord I attach securely an ordinary percussion-cap, 0, either by slipping it into anoose formed at the end of the cord and folding over it a portion of the edge of the cap, as shown in the drawings, or in other suitable manner. The cord may be readily and cheaply secured to the cartridge by pass ing it through a simple aperture in the side of Y the cartridge near its base, hnotting the end within the cartridge to prevent it from slipping back, and then imbcdding this knot in such gum, wax, or cement, k, as may be found sufficiently cheap, incombustible, and durable for the purpose, or by attaching it to an eye or loop of wire the ends of which either pass through and are soldered down within the cartridge, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, or

are soldered within a recess formed upon its outer circumference, as shown in Fig. 5.

In this manner many of the advantages found in cartridges which contain in their base the necessary fulminating compound are obtained without the danger of premature explosion, which must prevent their general use, for the cap can be readily and quickly placed upon the gun without detaching it from the cord; and the embarrassment, impediment to rapid firing, and difficulty experienced from dropping percussion-caps in attempting to place them upon the nipple under the excitement of an action, or in very cold wcather,are thereby in a measure obviated.

This feature of my invention is peculiarly adapted for use in connection with my improvements in firearms patented October 30, 1860; but I contemplate also the extension of the invention to that class of fire-arms in which the cartridge is fired without the intervention of a cone or nipple, and to this end Iplace the fulminating compound in a rigid projection or retractingarm, as shown in Figs. 6, 7,8, and 9.

In the cartridge shown by a vertical section at Fig. 9, around arm, D, of suitable length is fitted and soldered into the side of the cartridge, close to its base, with its inner head beveled off, as shown in Fig. 9, to occupy the least possible space. A small aperture, a, is

pierced centrally from the inner end of the arm outwardly a short distance, and there communicates with a recess, b, formed in the side of the arm in a position to be struck either mediately or directly by the hammer of the gun.

It is evident that by merely placing the ful minate in a very small compass, and at a single point, a great advantage is obtained over the usual mode of arranging the detonating compound around the entire base of the cartridge; but in order to obviate entirely the danger of an accidental discharge of the cartridge from premature explosion of this fulminate when occupying even the smallest possible space, I prefer the expression of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Within the arm E of the cartridge, (made thick enough for the purpose,) I form a small recess, c, (Fig. 7,) at a point which will be struck by the hammer of the gun when the cartridgeis placed in its proper position relat ive thereto. 'rlns recess"terminatesman "aperture formed through the arm as illustrated in Fig. 6, and is filled with a suitable jfulminating compound.

cartridge A, at a point opposite the mass of powder contained therein when loaded, I pierce a simple aperture, d, (to be filled with Upon the side of the wax or grease,) and in order to connect this aperture with the recess in the arm containing the detonatiug compound, I pierce an aperture in the gun-barrel, (as illustrated by the dotted line in Fig. 7,) in such a position as that when the cartridge is placed in the chamber of the barrel with the primingrecess in its retracting-arm in place to be struck by the hammer of the gun,(or any substitute therefor,) the two openings in the guiding aperture will correspond and coincide with the priming-recess c, at one end, and withthe opening (6 pierced in the side of the cartridge at the other, so that the spark will be conducted from the one to the other, and into the cartridge to fire its charge.

It is clear, however, that if by any means the detonating compound be exploded before the cartridge is in its proper position in relation to the gun-barrel, the spark will not reach 'the powder contained in the cartridge, but

will glance harmlessly oif.

I am aware that cartridges have heretofore 'been constructed in which a sliding pin, subserving the purpose of a retracting-arm, has been so combined therewith as that when struck by the hammer of the gun it will be driven in upon and explode a charge of ful minate placed within the cartridge. Hence I do not claim broadly the combination of fulminating-powderwith the retracting-arm of a cartridge, however they may be arranged.

, The'important and novel feature of my invention is placing the fulminate outside of the cartridge, which permits it to be loaded with as great a degree of safety as an ordinary paper cartridge, and with far greater rapidity.

subsequently added to my improved cartridges renders it unnecessary to prime them until they are required for immediate nse, and they can, therefore, be transported without a primin g of fulminate, completely avoiding the danger from this source, while, as has already been stated, the form of cartridge which I prefer (Figs. 6 and 7) will, when primed and when placed properly in the gun.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Combining any suitable detonating comdurable cartridge, by means of an arm, cord, or thong, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

This specification of my new and useful improvement in the mode of priming metallic cartridges signed by me this 28th day of May, A. D. 1863.

EDWARD MAYNARD.

Witnesses RANDOLPH ()OYLE, J12,

DAVID A. Benn "Tneraciuty with which 'th 'e eliminate may be ready for use, take tire from the fulminate only pound with a metallic or otherwise solid and 

